ACE FAQ Accreditation

Q: What’s the benefit of holding an NCCA-accredited ACE certification?

Earning a certification accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) means that you as a fitness professional have the knowledge and appropriate level of professional recognition to hold a legitimate place on the healthcare continuum. It makes you more attractive to potential employers and should positively impact your compensation. Accreditation of a credentialing organization by NCCA is the standard for a large majority of well-respected allied health care professionals, including those in nursing, nutrition and athletic training, to name a few.

Q: What if I already have a certification that isn’t accredited by the NCCA?

In 2005, the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) recommended club owners only hire personal trainers with certifications from agencies accredited through the NCCA or an equivalent accrediting organization. You can read more about that recommendation here. We encourage you to pursue an ACE certification.

Q: When did ACE earn its NCCA accreditation?

ACE earned NCCA accreditation for all four of our core certifications (Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Health Coach, and Medical Exercise Specialist) in 2003. Our organization is one of a few select certifying organizations in the entire fitness industry whose core certifications have all been accredited.

Q: What ACE certifications are accredited by the NCCA?

All four of our core certifications (Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Health Coach, and Medical Exercise Specialist) are accredited by the NCCA.

Q: How can I promote my credential using the ACE logo?

Although we encourage our fitness professionals to use the ACE-certified logo, we ask that you follow a few guidelines so that we can ensure the integrity of our brand stays intact. Before integrating it into your promotional materials, we encourage you to download our Logo Usage Guide from the ACE ProSite, which is also where you may access logo files.

Use only on business cards, stationary or brochures that promote you personally using an ACE certification you’ve earned. Misrepresentation is a breach of the ACE Code of Ethics and subject to disciplinary action.

Only use in full color (as provided by ACE) or in black ink only.

Q: Why do I have to petition?

The ACE Petition process was developed to assist ACE-certified professionals in meeting their continuing education recertification requirements.

If you have taken a continuing education course within your current ACE renewal cycle that has not been formally ACE-approved, but is applicable to your ACE certification, you may be able to petition the course for credits.

Q: How do I submit my petition for approval?

All petitions can be submitted through your My ACE Account under Petition for CECs.

Q: How long will it take for ACE to review my application?

The review time for online submittals is 14 days, and 28 business days from date of receipt for mail-in or faxed submittals. You will receive an email confirmation once your petition has been received. Once your petition has been reviewed, you will receive either a Pending email, requesting more information, or a Decision email (Approved or Denied), based on the information submitted.

Q: How much does it cost to have my course or event reviewed for approval?

Q: What qualifications does the course author and instructor need to possess in order for the course to be approved?

To receive ACE approval for a petitioned course, you must be able to:

Illustrate that the content is within the scope of practice of an ACE Certified Professional. For example, the course does not infringe on the duties of a registered dietitian or healthcare provider by prescribing diets or recommending specific supplements

The course must be taught in a structured learning environment. The author and all instructors must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a health-related field

Four-year degree in a business-related field (only applicable for business workshops pertinent to a fitness professional)

Q: What types of courses will ACE consider for a petition?

Q: What types of course topics will ACE approve for a petition?

ACE approves courses in a variety of topics including, but not limited to anatomy, body composition, business management, chronic conditions, communication and motivation, cueing and choreography, exercise physiology, exercise programming, fitness assessments, injury prevention, instructional techniques, nutrition, post-rehab programming, specialty class formats and weight management. The completed course must be applicable to your ACE certification and must be within the scope of practice for ACE Certified Professionals.

Q: What types of courses will ACE not approve for a petition?

Courses not eligible for ACE CECs include those which:

Prepare students to take ACE certification exams.

Activity classes, master classes or workouts that do not include an instructional component.

Are redundant to the experience and education of ACE Certified Professionals.

Prepare students for a different field (i.e. massage) or are beyond the scope of practice for ACE Certified Professionals.

Are positioned or titled as core certifications that do not hold NCCA accreditation (i.e. personal trainer).

Do not meet ACE educational requirements and standards.

Courses led by instructors not meeting ACE requirements.

Do not demonstrate a structured learning environment, complete with learning objectives.

Q: What happens if I do not have all the required information?

We encourage all ACE professionals to carefully read the course petition requirements and only submit if you have ALL the required information. It is your responsibility to obtain the all the information to complete the petition.

If your petition does not have all the required information or there are questions, you will receive an email and your petition will be in pending status until resolved.

Q: My recertification is due in less than 30 days. Can I expedite my application?

No. At this time we do not offer an expedited process for CEC petitions.

Q: What is required when petitioning a Live Workshop?

Please provide the course name, date of completion, total hours of the course, course description, course objectives, a copy of the hour-by-hour timeline or course syllabus listing all topics covered, the author and instructor name and qualifications, and a copy of the certificate of completion.

Q: What is required when petitioning a distance learning course?

Please provide the course name, date of completion, total hours of the course, course description, course objectives, a copy of the course syllabus listing all topics covered, or a copy of the table of contents. Include video, DVD, online component details including course descriptions and timelines to complete each segment, author credentials and instructor credentials, and a copy of the certificate of completion.

Q: What is required when petitioning a conference?

Please provide the conference name, dates attended, hours attended, a copy of the conference agenda or grid, presenter biographies, along with verification documentation from conference coordinator of sessions attended.

Q: How do I receive CECs from a college course?

To receive CECs from a college course, please upload your current college transcript. This can be found in your My ACE Account under Petition for CECs.

CECs will only be awarded for completed courses applicable to your ACE certification and a grade C or better. Courses must be completed within your current ACE renewal cycle.

Q: How do I submit an NCCA accredited certification?

The NCCA accredited certification must have been newly awarded during your ACE recertification cycle. The certification must not be a redundant certification to be approved for CECs (i.e. An ACE Personal Trainer will not receive CECs for earning another Personal Trainer certification).

Q: How many CECs do I need for my continuing education requirements?

You must complete a total of 2.0 (20 hours) CECs every two years to recertify.

Q: Does CPR, AED or First Aid re-certification count toward my CECs?

Yes. You can earn 0.2 CEC each for CPR, AED, and First-Aid. Record your CECs here.

Q: What do I do with my CECs once I have completed a course?

When you complete an ACE-approved CEC course, the course provider should issue you an ACE-approved course number. That number will be in the format of CEP/CP/CA/CS/CL, and will be followed by five to six numbers (ie: CA23456 or CEP123456). For events with multiple sessions (e.g. conferences) there will only be one number for the entire event. Cumulative CECs earned at the event are associated with that number.

To enter them online, login to your MyACE account and click on "My CECs." You’ll be redirected to your CEC page, where you can simply type in the course number. The CEC total should automatically fill in when you click out of the course number box. Afterward, you’ll need to input the completion date in MM/DD/YYYY format and click “Add CECs.” When you refresh the CEC list your new credits should be visible.

If you were not provided the correct ACE-approved course number, contact the course provider to obtain it. If you are unable to obtain the correct number or are otherwise unable to complete the process online, you may mail/fax/e-mail a copy of a certificate of completion from the course/event and we will enter your CECs.

If you have completed a course that has yet to be ACE approved you can submit a petition form found on our website along with supporting documentation to receive credit.

Q: What should I do with the certificates of completion?

Keep all your certificates of completion and any other course documentation for at least four years. Continuing education costs may be tax deductible as a business expense. Please check with your tax consultant for details.

Q: If I earn more than 2.0 CECs during a certification period, can I apply the extra credits to my next certification period?

No, credits apply only to your current certification period.

Q: Can I get CECs for a workout session or activity course?

No, these activities do not meet ACE continuing education criteria.

Q: How do I get credit for courses that are not pre-approved by ACE?

You may petition ACE to receive CECs for non-approved courses that contribute to your fitness and teaching skills. To qualify, courses must meet rigorous ACE continuing education standards. You can submit a petition form online.

Q: If I have three ACE certifications, do I have to take CECs for each certification or do the CEC courses apply to all three certifications?

If you take your 2.0 CECs within the time frame that all three certifications are current, you may apply the same set of CECs toward all three certifications. Keep in mind, however, that each of your certifications are still considered individual and require individual recertification fees.

Q: How are CECs calculated?

A course is assigned continuing education credits based on the amount of time spent in the educational portion of a course. For each hour of structured learning, ACE assigns 0.1 CEC. In university undergraduate environments, one semester hour is equivalent to 1.0 CECs; a quarter hour equivalent to 0.8 CECs. For university extension classes to qualify, a grade report or transcript must reflect at least a “C” grade.

Q: Can I earn CECs for completing the same course twice?

No, you may only earn CECs one time for completing the same course.

Q: What qualifications do i need to be considered as an ACE Continuing Education Provider?

To receive ACE approval for your distance learning course, live webinar, workshop or conference, your content must be within the scope of practice for ACE Certified Professionals. For example, ACE Certified Professionals may not diagnose, prescribe, treat injury or disease, or rehabilitate. You must also not infringe on the duties of a registered dietitian or healthcare provider by prescribing diets or recommending specific supplements.

The course must be taught in a structured learning environment and the author and all instructors must meet at least one of the following qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a health-related field

Four-year degree in a business-related field (only applicable for business workshops pertinent to a fitness professional)

Q: How are ace Continuing Education Credits (CECs) determined?

CEC values correspond to the approximate amount of time (in hours) spent participating in an organized continuing education experience under qualified instruction. This does NOT include breaks or lunch associated with live programs (ie: workshops or conferences). One contact hour equals 0.1 CEC. ACE does not award partial credit (for 30 minutes) unless it is part of a conference.

Once ACE has assigned a CEC value, it can only be modified if the course is substantially revised or augmented.

Q: How much does it cost to have my course or event reviewed or renewed for approval?

Costs vary by the type of session. Please see the following chart for a more detailed description. Keep in mind that all application fees are nonrefundable and are valid only from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of the reviewed year.

Workshops or Live Webinars

First new or renewed course submitted for year: $250

All additional courses in year: $50

Distance Learning Courses, Recorded Webinars, Hybrid (Combination of a Live Workshop and a Distance Learning) Courses

First new or renewed course submitted for year: $500

All additional courses in year: $200

Conferences

1-50 sessions: $300

51-100 sessions: $800

100+ sessions: $1,000

Q: How long will it take ace to review my application?

ACE will review your application package within 30 days of receipt. Please keep this in mind when submitting an application for any type of course review.

Q: My course or event is taking place in less than 30 days. Can i expedite my application?

Yes. ACE offers a "rush" option for workshops, webinars and conferences only. Rush applications must be received at least 15 days in advance of the proposed program date. Applications received after this time cannot be guaranteed review or approval prior to the start of the program. The rush fees for courses, workshops or webinars are $100 and those for conferences are $250. All rush fees are in addition to standard course or event application fees, and are also nonrefundable.

Q: What types of courses will ACE consider for approval?

Q: What courses will ACE not approve?

Are redundant to the experience and education of ACE Certified Professionals.

Prepare students for a different field (ie: massage) or are beyond the scope of practice for ACE Certified Professionals.

Are positioned or titled as core certifications that do not hold NCCA accreditation.

Do not meet ACE educational requirements and standards.

Do not demonstrate a structured learning environment, complete with learning objectives.

Q: I have a course that was ace-approved several years ago that i would like to once again offer for ace credits. Can i renew this course?

Education that is eligible for renewal must have been approved by ACE within the past two years. Any approved education that has been inactive for more than that must be resubmitted as a new course.

Q: How do I submit my conference for ace approval?

To submit your conference for ACE approval, be prepared to enter the following information into the online application. Copying and pasting from an existing Word document may make the process easier for you.

Conference name

Description

Start and end dates

Location (country, state, city, zip)

Number of sessions

Complete session schedule (you may upload the event brochure as long as it includes a session grid specifying the dates and times of each session, session descriptions and presenter bios)

To calculate CECs for your conference, please use the following guidelines:

The maximum CEC conference value is rounded to the maximum number of full education hours that can be completed. For example, a conference with 18 hours, 30 minutes of approved sessions would receive 1.8 CECs.

Please keep in mind that providers are responsible for ensuring instructors at their conference meet the following ACE qualifications:

Instructors must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in exercise science or a health-related field, OR a four-year degree in a business-related field (only applicable for business workshops pertinent to a fitness professional), OR a current NCCA-accredited fitness certification (ACE, ACSM, NASM, NSCA, AAPTE, Cooper Institute, IFPA, NCSF, NESTA, NETA, NFPT, PMA and TWCC), OR a REPs certification, OR a current RYT credential (yoga courses only)

Possess at least two years of experience in the subject matter being presented.

Q: How do I submit my workshop or live webinar for ACE approval?

To submit your workshop or live webinar for ACE approval, be prepared to enter the following information into the online application. Copying and pasting from an existing Word document may make the process easier for you.

Description of 100-150 words that represents the focus, subject and intended audience of the workshop or webinar

Three measurable objectives participants will be able to meet after attending. Start each objective with "Students will be able to ..." (should be clear and specific to the outline submitted).

Detailed outline with an hour-by-hour breakdown that includes breaks and meals.

Scientific basis of your course and how it meets exercise science, nutrition, behavioral or fitness business standards.

Instructor or presenter name and resume, including relevant credentials

Detailed course outline and course manual in electronic format that contains text of the course content. File must be a .pdf, .zip, .doc or a docx file under 10 mb. If your workshop or webinar includes specific exercises, please include illustrations of each as well as instructions on how to correctly perform them.

To calculate CECs for your event, please use the following:

1 hour = 0.1 CEC 2 hours = 0.2 CECs

Q: How do I submit my distance learning course for ACE approval?

To submit your distance learning course for ACE approval, be prepared to enter the following information into the online application. Copying and pasting from an existing Word document may make the process easier for you.

Course title

Course description (100-150 words)

Three measurable objectives participants will be able to meet. Start each objective with "Students will be able to ..." (should be clear and specific to the outline submitted).

Name of author(s), as well as any related degrees, certifications or experience

Necessary permissions (applicable only if the author is not affiliated with your organization)

Detailed course outline including agenda that meets listed objectives, and descriptions of all practice drills and skill enhancements.

Post-completion test (an exam should be designed to verify participant completion of the course, reinforce important content, evaluate student comprehension and verify that the learning objectives were met)

Name and email addresses of three reviewers, along with their completed ACE Distance Learning Course Review Forms. All reviewers should be professionals who meet the professional level of the intended audience.

To calculate CEC values for distance learning courses involving text or video materials, ACE will use the following guidelines:

Validated Mergener Formula to determine educational time to read print materials based on word count (adjusted for difficulty of content and including time to answer test questions)

Video or media run time

Course review by ACE Professional Education staff member

Course completion times reported by three external reviewers of your choice

You will also need to provide the following, if applicable:

Run time of DVD/CD or video materials

Word count for print materials

Number of exam questions

Link to access online course

Aside from the online application and additional materials listed previously, you will be required to email in as an attachment, by a doc share program, or by regular mail - a complete set of course materials (all manuals, DVDs, CDs, bibliography, references and post-completion test) to:

Q: Is there a proper form for writing quizzes for my distance learning course?

Yes. Adhering to the following guidelines will speed up the review process and eliminate the need for ACE to request new questions or revisions.

Multiple-choice questions should be formatted with one question and four answer options.

Do not use “All of the above,” “None of the above,” “Both A and C,” or similar formats for answer options.

All answer options should begin with a capital letter, even if they are part of a fill-in-the-blank question.

Do not use abbreviations (ie: abs, reps or quads)

Avoid terms that refer to frequency (ie: rarely or usually) and those that refer to absolutes (ie: never or always).

Avoid repeating words in the question and answer options.

Do not use periods at the end of answer options.

To emphasize a key word in the question, use all capital letters and boldface (no italics or underline). Use this technique sparingly.

Keep answer options similar in length and wording. For example, if the first three answer options for a particular question are “Biceps,” “Triceps,” and “Hamstrings,” the fourth option should be something similar, such as “Quadriceps,” as opposed to “Teres major and minor.”

For fill-in-the-blank questions, the blank should be 10 spaces long.

If answer options are all numbers, please put the smallest number as option “A” and list them in order from smallest to largest.

The following is a list of the minimum number of quiz questions based on CEC value:

Q: What do I give my participants upon completion of my ACE approved education option?

Providers must issue each attendee an accurate certificate of completion at the conclusion of every continuing education option approved by ACE. A certificate approved by ACE will be available on your provider web page once your course has been approved. That certificate includes the attendee’s name, the course title approved by ACE, ACE course approval number, course date, number of CECs and the approved presenter’s name.

Q: How Do I Use My ACE eBook

The following information will help you navigate through your eBook by explaining the toolbar functions, the navigation hot keys / short-cut keys, and other usability functions.

To zoom the publication in and out, either click in the area of the page you wish to zoom in on, or use the zoom button on the toolbar, which will automatically zoom on the centre of the pages you are viewing. Then select your preferred level of zoom using the zoom scale, which will appear on the toolbar once the publication is zoomed in.

To move the page around, click and drag the publication or use the scroll bars found at the right hand side and the bottom of the page.

If you are reading on a PC and you have a wheel on your mouse you can use this to scroll up and down.

Click on the publication or zoom icon again to zoom out (a minus sign will appear in the icon for zooming out).

PAGE BROWSING

To turn the page, click on the bottom right corner of the publication or use the arrow buttons on the tool bar for instant page display. You can also move instantly to the first or last page using the keys with a single vertical line, next to the arrow keys.

The page you are viewing will be displayed in the white window, in the middle of the toolbar. You can also type the page you require into this page display, to move instantly.

You can also use the contents drop down menu on the right hand side of the toolbar to select the page you require.

HOTKEYS

To navigate through the publication using hot keys instead of a mouse, use the following keys: To select items on the menu bar use the TAB key to move through the selections. A yellow box will highlight your selection. To activate the selection hit the space bar. - To turn to the next page, press the full stop key. - To turn to back to the previous page, press the comma key. - To zoom in, press 'Z' once. Press the Z key a second time to zoom out again. - You can increase or decrease the zoom level by pressing the + or - keys. - Once zoomed in, press A to scroll left. - Press D to scroll right. - Press W to scroll up. - And press S to scroll down.

SEARCH

There is a contextual search facility on the far right of the toolbar. Type your search word or term into the box and click the GO button to start the search. A drop down menu of results will appear under the search box. Click the page you require from the menu and you will be delivered directly to that page. Your keyword or search term will be highlighted in green.

STICKY NOTES

You can add notes to the page for future reference by clicking on the note icon on the toolbar and, selecting the area you wish to annotate. Write your notes in the yellow box. Once you have finished, a yellow note icon will be pasted on the selected area. When you wish to view your notes again, simply scroll over the yellow note icon when required.

BOOKMARKING

You can add bookmarks to your eBook that will allow you to return easily to specific pages. ACE eBooks allow for multiple page bookmarking, using different coloured bookmarks for each page.

You can also reference each bookmark with a short description.

The bookmarks will remain on your publication if you view the publication from the same computer. You can also save an offline version of your publication to your desktop, which will also save your bookmarks and referencing.

CONTENTS

You can click on the contents button on the left of the toolbar to view a drop down menu of the publication's contents. Clicking on the page you require will move you directly to that page. You can also click to view thumbnails of each page in the publication.

Q: How can I register for the ACE exam?

For your convenience, you can register for computer-based testing online (ACE Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor certifications only), by phone, or by mail or fax. Whatever format you choose to register, you must hold a current CPR and AED certificate, and it must not expire before your testing date.

Search online to find a testing location in your area by visiting the ACE exam registration site. To download a computer-based exam registration form to mail or fax, click here.

An associate’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in fitness, exercise science, nutrition, health care, wellness, human resources or a related field;

At least 2 years of comparable work experience in any of the industries specified above.

Medical Exercise Specialist

Be at least 18 years old and hold a current CPR/AED certification with a live skills check.

SUBMIT PROOF of:

A bachelor?s degree in exercise science or a related field at the time of exam registration.

500 completed hours of work experience designing and implementing exercise programs for apparently healthy or high-risk individuals, as documented by a qualified professional.

Present a current government-issued photo ID with signature (driver?s license, passport, military ID) on exam day.

* Candidates taking computer-based ACE exam must hold a current CPR / AED certificate at the time of registration, and it cannot expire prior to the exam date. Online CPR/AED courses will not be accepted.

Q: What are the benefits of taking a computer-based exam?

The computer-based format is administered at more than 500 testing centers across the U.S. and Canada. It also allows candidates to receive their results immediately upon completion of the exam.

Q: Where can I take a computer-based exam?

Computer-based ACE certification exams are offered at more than 500 locations across the U.S. and Canada. To find a testing location in your area, please visit the ACE exam registration site.

Q: When can I register for a computer-based exam?

Different testing locations have different standards when it comes to how early you can register for a CBT exam. For most locations, the latest you can register for an exam is 10 days prior to your chosen exam date. Please keep in mind that date frequency and availability may differ from site to site.

Q: What if I need special accommodations (ADA)?

Candidates with special testing needs will be accommodated as best as possible. Given the limitations of a third-party contracted computer-testing facility, accommodations are restricted. Please contact the exam registration department for more information at (888) 825-3636, ext. 783 or via e-mail at examregistration@ACEfitness.org.

Q: What happens after I register for the exam?

Once your examination date, site and time have been approved, you’ll receive an e-mail notification instructing you to download and print your admission ticket. Exam day rules and site information will be located on this ticket. Please make sure to bring your admission ticket for entry on exam day, along with an official government-issued ID with photo and signature. The name on your ID must match the name on your exam registration. You will not be able to sit for the exam otherwise.

Q: What if I need to reschedule?

You may reschedule your ACE exam up to 11:59 p.m. PST the day before your exam date for a rescheduling fee of $149. Candidates that “no show” and do not reschedule prior to that deadline will be subject to first-time exam fees for a new testing date.

To reschedule, login to your MyACE account, select “My Exam Information” and then “Reschedule My Exam.” Proceed through the online registration process, paying the fee upon check out. You’re only eligible to reschedule once, and you may only reschedule for another computer-based exam. Once your new desired examination date, site and time have been approved, you’ll receive an e-mail notification instructing you to download and print your admission ticket.

Exceptions to the reschedule fee will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented serious illness, bereavement, natural disasters and other emergencies. In these instances, candidates must contact ACE Exam Registration prior to the day of their exam and provide supporting documentation. Candidates who have requested special accommodations will need to contact the ACE Exam Registration either via e-mail at examregistration@ACEfitness.org or by calling (888) 825-3636, ext. 783 to reschedule.

Q: What if I need to cancel?

Cancellations must be made outside of 30 days from your confirmed testing date for a 50% refund of the exam fee paid. Refunds cannot be provided once an exam voucher has been redeemed or for exams that have already been rescheduled. If you registered for your exam within 30 days of the testing date, your only option is to reschedule as cancellations within 30 days will not be refunded.

Exceptions to the refund deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented cases of serious illness, bereavement, natural disasters or other emergencies. To apply for a refund, please e-mail examregistration@acefitness.org or send a fax including Attn: Exam Registration to (858) 576-6564.

Q: How do you calculate the ratios for McGill's Torso Test?

The McGill's Torso Muscular Endurance Test Battery assesses the endurance of three torso muscle groups and is comprised of the following tests:

Poor endurance of the torso muscles or an imbalance between the three muscle groups can contribute to low back pain and core instability

The tests are performed individually and involve a static, timed, isometric contraction of the core muscles stabilizing the spine until the individual exhibits fatigue. Refer to the ACE Personal Trainer Manual 5th ed., pg. 187-192, for test instructions. The results are evaluated collectively in the following ratios to indicate balanced endurance among the muscle groups:

Flexion: Extension

For muscular balance between the front and back of the torso, the ratio should be less than 1.0 (ratio means dividing the two numbers).

In this case, the ratio refers to the number of seconds held in each position, or flexion time/extension time.

Right-side bridge (RSB): Left-side bridge (LSB)

Right-side bridge time/left-side bridge time

For muscular balance between the sides of the torso, the score should be no greater than 0.05 from a balanced score of 1.0 (that is, an acceptable range would be a score somewhere between 0.95 to 1.05).

Side bridge (SB) (either side): Extension

One-side bridge time/extension time

For muscular balance between one side and the back of the torso, the score should be less than 0.75.

Let's work through an example. A client completed the three tests with the following results:

The score of 0.8 fits within the criteria of <1.0 for muscular balance between the front and back of the torso.

RSB: LSB

88 seconds:92 seconds = 88/92 = 0.96 (0.956 rounded up)

This score fits within the 0.05 range from 1.0 (that is, it falls between 0.95 and 1.05), indicating muscular balance between the right and left sides of the torso.

Side bridge (choose one side at a time, but remember to perform the ratio calculation for both sides): Extension

RSB = 88 seconds:150 seconds = 88/150 = 0.59 (0.586 rounded up)

This score fits within the criteria of <0.75 for muscular balance between the right side and the back of the torso.

Side bridge: Extension

LSB = 92 seconds:150 seconds = 92/150 = 0.61 (0.613 rounded down)

This score fits within the criteria of <0.75 for muscular balance between the right side and the back of the torso.

The results show that this client has well-balanced torso muscles.

Q: What's the difference between pre-contemplation and contemplation?

PreparationMost of the time, if someone has made the effort to meet with a fitness professional, he or she has at least reached the preparation stage. However, you may encounter someone who is still in the pre-contemplation or contemplation stage. When this happens, that person has usually been prompted to meet with you by his or her doctor or a loved one.

Pre-contemplationIf a person is in pre-contemplation, he or she typically does not want to be there and does not believe that exercise can have an impact on health. In this case, it's important for you to take the appropriate steps to get the potential exerciser thinking about inactivity as a relevant issue and to start thinking about becoming more physically active. Some of the interventions used during this stage include providing information about the risks of inactivity and the benefits of activity, acknowledging that there is a lack of readiness to change and reevaluating current behaviors. The reason why it's important to recognize individuals in this stage of change is because people in pre-contemplation aren't necessarily open to the idea of exercise. Therefore, you could potentially increase resistance to physical activity by pushing the idea that they must exercise. However, if you provide information on how exercise can benefit them and then offer your expertise as a resource, while encouraging questions or allowing them to voice their concerns, you can essentially "plant the seed" so that they may consider exercise (moving them to contemplation).

A practical tool the fitness professional can use to determine if someone is in contemplation or pre-contemplation is to ask the following question: "On a scale of 1 to 10 how ready do you believe you are to make this change or adopt this healthy behavior?" If the potential client provides a response below 4, he or she is most likely in the pre-contemplation stage.

ContemplationA person in the contemplation stage, however, knows the value of exercise, but for whatever reason is not regularly engaging in it. A contemplator is starting to consider the importance of becoming more physically active and has begun to recognize the implications of being inactive. He or she might have an internal dialogue that sounds like this: "I know I should exercise, but I just don't have the time, energy, etc." At this point, the person is allowing the cons of engaging in exercise to outweigh the pros of becoming more physically active. This is the point where we want to encourage the potential client to introduce some type of activity into their day, even if it means starting small, like walking for 10 minutes twice a day. Successfully achieving small tasks related to exercise may get them to realize that regular physical activity can be a part of their life if they can take the appropriate steps to commit. During this stage it is important to help clients explore options (like preferences for physical activity), and provide cues to action, some basic structure and design (such as how often and how long to be active), and opportunities to ask questions.

Tools a fitness professional may use with someone in this stage include the evaluation of the pros and cons of making the change and removing barriers to becoming more active, such as offering a free gym trial.

Q: Do I have to know all of the assessments when studying for the Personal Training exam?

Technically, everything in the manual can appear on the exam, however, we recommend spending more time focusing on the main ideas versus memorizing each step of the protocol. Know the objective or purpose of each assessment, for whom it is appropriate and any contraindications, and what the outcome reveals about the client. We also recommend reviewing the following blog posts:

Q: Do I need to know everything from the Essentials of Exercise Science manual?

Although your EES manual is the foundation for what you will need to know for the exam, you don’t need to memorize everything. Remember, knowledge of anatomy and physiology is critical to becoming a fitness professional and studying is a layered process. These topics will build on the other chapters as you move through the program and you will need to refer back to the EES manual. Here are a few helpful blogs to assist you with the information you need for the Essentials of Exercise Science book:

You are not expected to master each chapter before moving on to the next. Rather, just make sure you’ve understood what you’ve read, and then refer back to these topics as they reappear. We typically recommend spending no more than one week getting through each chapter (assuming you’re studying the recommended 10 to 12 hours per week).

Q: What is VT1 and VT2?

During submaximal exercise, ventilation (or breathing rate) parallels oxygen uptake and there is a linear increase between intensity and ventilation. In other words, as the heart beats faster, breathing rate becomes more rapid. This linear increase continues until exercise approaches the lactate threshold. At this point, ventilation begins to increase in a non-linear fashion and ventilation is no longer directly linked with oxygen demand. This first disproportionate increase in oxygen consumption represents VT1 and occurs in response to an initial accumulation of metabolic by-products in the blood. At the intensity of VT1 breathing rate increases in an attempt to blow off extra CO2 produced during the buffering of metabolic by-products. A person exercising at the intensity of VT1 will notice a change in breathing rate and speaking will become more difficult. At this point, the exerciser probably cannot speak comfortably. As long as the exerciser can speak comfortably, he or she is almost always below VT1, where the cardiorespiratory challenge to the body is caused primarily by inhalation (and not the expiration of additional CO2, as seen at intensities above VT1).

As exercise intensity continues to increase there is a second disproportionate increase in ventilation that is associated with increased lactate production which coincides with acidosis. At this point, hyperventilation (or increased breathing rate in an attempt to get rid of additional C02) is no longer adequate to buffer the increase in acidity and metabolic by-products begin to accumulate at a rate faster than they can be buffered. This point is considered the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). Exercise immediately below VT2 represents the highest sustainable exercise intensity. Exercise above VT2 represents an intensity that cannot be sustained for long periods and speech is not possible other than single words.

VT1

VT2

ZONE 1

ZONE 2

ZONE 3

HR below VT1

HR VT1- just below VT2

VT2 and above

METS (3-6)

METS (6-9)

METS > 9

RPE (3-4)

RPE (5-6)

RPE (7-10)

RPE (12-13)

RPE (14-16)

RPE (17-20)

70-80% training time

<10% training time

10-20% training time

Low to moderate

Moderate to vigorous

Vigorous to very vigorous

Moderate to somewhat hard

Hard

Very hard to extreme

Talk comfortably

No sure if talking is comfortable

Definitely cannot talk comfortably

Q: Is giving nutrition advice within a fitness professional's scope of practice?

As a certified fitness professional, it is outside of your scope of practice to design and implement nutrition plans or diets. Your role as a fitness professional is to educate your clients on nutrition and share your knowledge of healthy choices to help them adopt more healthful behaviors. This can include showing them how to utilize tools available at www.myfoodplate.gov or educating them about USDA Dietary Guidelines recommendations. If your client needs specific advice or a diet plan, refer them to a registered dietitian.

Within Scope of Practice for Fitness Professionals

Principles of healthy nutrition and food preparation

Food to be included in a balanced daily diet

Essential nutrients needed by the body

Actions of nutrients on the body

Effects of deficiencies or excesses of nutrients

How nutrient requirements vary through the lifecycle

Information about nutrients contained in foods or supplements

Outside Scope of Practice for Fitness Professionals

Individualized nutrition recommendations or meal planning other than that which is available through government guidelines and recommendations, or has been developed and endorsed by a registered dietitian or physician

Q: I'm overwhelmed by the materials. Where do I start?

Since there are multiple certifications and package options, it’s best to contact a study coach to review your materials over the phone. Generally, we advise reviewing your account, course syllabus and emails for instructions on your specific program.

Q: What is risk classification and how does it work?

Purpose and Process
The purpose of performing a pre-participation screening is to become informed about the presence or absence of disease (cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal or metabolic), identify individuals with medical contraindications who should be excluded from exercise until the condition is resolved or under control, detect at-risk individuals who should first undergo a medical evaluation and clinical testing before becoming more physically active, and to identify individuals who should participate in medically supervised programs.

The process of conducting a risk classification involves gathering and reviewing health information, medical history and lifestyle habits in order to classify clients into one of three categories:

Low risk (0-1 points or risk factors)

Moderate risk (2-8 points or risk factors)

High risk?based on the presence of these known diseases:

Cardiovascular

Pulmonary

Renal

Metabolic

It is important to understand that the total number of positive risk factors is not used to determine high risk. High risk is only determined if symptoms or known diseases are present. The number of total positive risk factors is only used to determine whether a client is at low or moderate risk. For example, even if a client has all 8 positive risk factors but is asymptomatic he or she would be classified as only moderate risk.

Commonly Misunderstood Positive Risk Factors
There are several commonly misunderstood positive risk factors, for instance the defining criteria for family history. Remember, with family history you need to know the age at which the first degree male or female relative was diagnosed and if he or she specifically had a myocardial infarction (heart attack), coronary revascularization (bypass), or died suddenly. A first degree relative is a parent, sibling or child and you are looking at the conditions mentioned above and no others. Take, for example, a client who tells you that his father is 53 years old, has diabetes and obesity, smokes, is sedentary, and has hypertension and dyslipidemia. Even though the father’s health status is poor, the father did not have a heart attack or bypass surgery, nor did he die before age 55, so your client would not get a +1 for this category.

Another risk factor that causes confusion is dyslipidemia. For this condition, remember to use the total serum cholesterol level (≥200 mg/dl) only if you do not know the specific HDL and LDL values. If the LDL and HDL values are present, determine if the client gets a +1 in this category based on the HDL (<40) and LDL (≥130) scores and not the total serum cholesterol level. In other words, only use the total serum cholesterol if that is all that is available.

Classification
Once the number of total positive risk factors and the presence or absence of disease or symptoms have been determined, a client can be classified in a risk level using the total number of positive risk factors to determine low or moderate risk and the presence or absence of disease or symptoms of disease to determine high risk. If a client is considered low risk (< 2 risk factors), he or she is ready to get started with an exercise program. If a client is moderate risk (≥2), he or she is ready to begin a low- to moderate-intensity exercise program, but would need a medical exam prior to performing vigorous exercise. If a client is in the high risk category (symptomatic, or known cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, or metabolic disease) he or she would need a medical exam before initiating any level of physical activity.

The risk classification system is not meant to be a barrier to becoming more physically active, but is designed to ensure it is safe and appropriate for new clients to begin an exercise program. The best way to learn more about risk classification is to practice classifying both real and fictitious clients.

Q: Aerobic vs. anaerobic metabolism: fat vs. carbohydrate utilization

Your body utilizes two primary nutrients as fuel sources to produce ATP, the energy used for movement and to sustain life?carbohydrates and fats. Depending on the intensity at which you are working, your body will produce a greater percentage of ATP from one source or the other. Protein is primarily a building block for cells and many other elements in our bodies, and is only used as a fuel source when we are running out of carbohydrates.

“Aerobic” refers to cellular metabolism where ATP is produced “with oxygen” and “anaerobic” refers to cellular metabolism where some or all of the ATP is produced “without oxygen.” Aerobic metabolism occurs at lower intensities where our working muscles, organs and other systems are able to get all of the oxygen they need to meet their energy demands. This can include what we think of in the fitness world as “aerobic exercise” (moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise), but also includes activities that are less strenuous such as reading, washing dishes, sitting at a computer and even sleeping. During all of these activities, the body is able to produce the ATP it needs by utilizing oxygen in the process. The fuel sources for aerobic cellular metabolism are fats and carbohydrates, with a greater percentage of calories coming from fats at lower intensities. As the intensity of work increases, we use a lower percentage of calories from fats, while the percentage of calories utilized from carbohydrates increases. The higher the intensity, the more we use carbohydrates as a fuel source. Our bodies generally draw upon a combination of carbohydrates and fats to produce ATP, with the exception being very short-duration, high-intensity anaerobic activities, such as a 100-meter sprint where the primary fuel sources are creatine phosphate, stored ATP, and muscle glycogen (i.e., carbohydrates stored in the muscle).

Every time you exercise or do other physical work like stocking shelves, mowing the lawn, etc., your caloric expenditure increases to meet the demands of the working muscles. This energy comes from fats and carbohydrates in proportions that vary based on the level of intensity as described above. While our bodies burn a greater percentage of calories from fat at lower intensities, we can actually burn a great deal of calories from fat at higher intensities simply because we burn more total calories both before and after a workout when we engage in higher intensity activities. The limiting factor is a person’s ability to tolerate vigorous activity for durations that bring about significant energy usage. For beginners, or those who are unaccustomed to vigorous exercise, it is necessary to begin at lower intensities in order to build a foundation of fitness before attempting very high-intensity work.

Q: I'm struggling with the postural assessment. What are some suggestions for reviewing these areas?

A standing, relaxed postural assessment may be conducted to evaluate body-segment alignment. The information gathered in this type of static postural assessment may be used (in combination with movement screens) to evaluate how posture, both good and bad, impacts a client's ability to move. The important observation to make during a static postural assessment is how (if at all) a person's joints differ from what is considered "ideal" or "neutral." Deviations from neutral posture could mean that muscles on each side of the joint are chronically tight or weak. When muscles are overused or in a chronically shortened position at rest (e.g., hip flexors when seated) they may become tight. When those opposing muscles are underused or in a chronically lengthened position (e.g., hip extensors when seated), they can become weak. What you'll notice in these compensations is that they're almost always paired muscles groups, meaning that the agonist (the one responsible for the action in the compensation) is tight and the antagonist (the opposing muscle group) is weak. In that case you want to stretch the agonist muscles and strengthen the antagonist muscles. The following is a short list of blogs to review related to static and dynamic joint function. Start by looking at static postural analysis and then move on to the movement assessments.

Q: What do I really need to focus on?

We highly recommend reviewing your Exam Content Outline (Appendix B) in your manual, as this is essentially the "blueprint" for the exam. This will divide the information into multiple domains, and each domain has a set list of tasks that you will be expected to understand. Use the "knowledge of" and "skills in" sections to guide you and make sure you feel very comfortable with those sections. A good way to tell if you're comfortable with a topic is to try to explain it to someone else. If you feel confident that you could explain it to a client or class participant, then you're probably proficient with that topic; if you're not quite sure, then you'll probably want to review that topic. Also, if you are signed up for the Study Coach emails or are using one of the online study programs, you will be provided with helpful information about what to focus on as you move through your lessons.

Q: I'm at the end of my studies. What else can I do to prepare?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Have I thoroughly used all of the materials I have available?

Have I reviewed the appropriate exam preparation blogs?

Have I practiced the assessments or teaching strategies on a friend or family member?

Have I tried to explain the topics out loud to see if I actually understand them?

Have I reached out to a study coach with my specific questions?

Have I reviewed the Exam Content Outline (Appendix B) in the back of the manual?

Q: What's the difference between autogenic and reciprocal inhibition?

Autogenic inhibition involves stimulation of the Golgi tendon organ (GTO) during a muscular contraction. The GTO is a proprioceptor responsible for sensing increases in tension during both concentric and eccentric actions. Performing a muscular action activates the GTO causing that muscle’s fibers (specifically, the agonist’s fibers) to relax. Under GTO activation, the agonist muscle is inhibited causing the fibers to lengthen.

A practical example of autogenic inhibition is observed during static stretching. During a static stretch muscle tension temporarily increases and after holding the stretch for 7 to 10 seconds the GTO is activated. When the GTO is activated, the muscle spindle is inhibited. The muscle spindle protects us from overstretching, so if this function is inhibited we can move into a deeper stretch.

Reciprocal inhibition involves stimulation of the muscle spindle during the stretching of muscle fibers. The muscle spindle wraps around the muscle fibers in a parallel fashion and will stretch as muscle fibers stretch. When a muscle group is stretched, the muscle spindle activates causing the stretched muscle (agonist) to contract and the antagonist muscle group to relax. Reciprocal inhibition is also known as the stretch reflex.

A practical example of reciprocal inhibition occurs during proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF). During this stretching technique, a low grade muscular contraction of the antagonist muscle (in this case, the muscle group opposite of the muscle group targeted to receive the stretch) is held for 6 to 15 seconds. This low grade muscle contraction inhibits the muscle spindle activity in the agonist muscle (in this case, the muscle targeted to be stretched) allowing that muscle to be stretched further.

Q: How can I identify in which plane of motion an action takes place?

In this activity, we’re going to use a wall to represent the planes, and all motions you make must be parallel to that wall to occur in that plane:

Frontal Plane
Back yourself up to a wall so that your entire back side is against the wall. Pretend this wall is in your center, dividing you into anterior and posterior halves. This imaginary wall represents the frontal plane. To practice the motions that occur in this plane, you must keep your entire back side and limbs against the wall behind you. Motions in this plane would include movements like making snow angels (adduction/abduction) and elevating and depressing the shoulders. Notice, if you try to do a biceps curl, you would have to lift your forearm off of the wall, so this indicates that flexion and extension do not occur in the frontal plane.

Sagittal Plane:Turn to one side and place your side against the wall (your arm might have to be slightly in front of the body to get hip against the wall). Pretend this wall is in your center, dividing you into right and left halves. This wall represents the sagittal plane. For this plane, you must keep your side against the wall. Movements in the sagittal plane would include biceps curls (that is, flexion and extension), dead lifts and squats. Any movement where you can keep the side of your body parallel to the wall takes place in the sagittal plane. Notice, if you try to do the motions described for the frontal plane (abduction and adduction or elevation and depression) or any twisting motion, you would have to lift your side off of the wall or move through the wall.

Transverse Plane This one is a little harder to imagine, but it can be represented by visualizing your body being divided into top and bottom halves and then placing your torso on top of a table and your lower extremities below the table. Movements that occur in this plane should keep the body or a specific joint parallel to the table. This would include movements like rotation of the trunk, pronation and supination of the forearm, and circumduction of the thumb. Notice, performing any of the activities previously mentioned in the other planes would cause you to intersect with the “table.”

Q: How much math will be on the exam? Which formulas will I have to memorize?

The test contains math-based questions to determine if you can use basic mathematics (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) to apply what you are learning to real-life scenarios. These questions will require calculations and memorization of some fitness formulas. However, you only need to know a few formulas for the exam, and they can all be found on this Helpful Fitness Formulas sheet. While all of these formulas are useful to know as a fitness professional, they may not all be specific to your test. It is recommended you cross-reference the formulas on the handout with what is covered in your text. The exam program itself will have a calculator function and you will also have access to scratch paper and a pencil.
For further guidance on this subject, please see:

Q: Where can I take the exam?

There are thousands of testing locations around the world. To find a location near you log in to your account and select My Exam Information ? Sign up for an Exam. You will be able to select your country and zip code to determine when and where to take your exam. Or, click here to search for an exam testing site in your area.

Q: I'm confused about the different terminology used for VT1 and VT2. Please help.

Many texts use varied terminology related to the metabolic markers used to describe the physiological response to cardiorespiratory exercise. In the ACE manuals, VT1 and VT2 will be used, but it is important to recognize the other commonly used terms when reviewing the literature:

The first ventilatory threshold (VT1) is also referred to as the lactate threshold and the anaerobic threshold.

The second ventilatory threshold (VT2) is also referred to as the respiratory compensation threshold and the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA).

Another potential source of confusion involves the term "anaerobic threshold," which has come to mean different things in various parts of the world based on the way it was used in early research on the topic. This is another reason ACE has chosen to utilize VT1 and VT2 throughout this manual.

Q: Can I extend my voucher deadline?

Unfortunately, there is no way to extend the exam voucher expiration date, however, the date that your exam voucher expires is not the date by which you need to take your exam. It is simply the date by which you need to select the date you will sit for your exam. The day that you actually take the exam can be as far out as the testing locations in your area schedule exams. If you look at the locations in your area (searched by the zip code you have on file in your account), you’ll notice that exams can be scheduled past your voucher expiration date. If you widen your search radius, more dates and locations may appear.

Candidates who purchase certification bundles that include an exam voucher are subject to the following policies:

ACE's Refund Policy allows for returns within 30 days from the date of purchase. All returns are subject to a 20% restocking fee. Customers who have redeemed their exam voucher are not eligible for a refund.

Exam vouchers are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Exam vouchers must be redeemed within 6 months from the original date of purchase.

CPR/AED certification is required to register for the exam and must remain current through the exam date. Course must include a live skills check; online-only CPR/AED courses are not accepted.

Extensions are not given on exam vouchers.

Retake vouchers (included in select study bundles) must be redeemed within 60 days of the original failed exam date.

Exceptions to the refund deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented cases of serious illness, bereavement, natural disasters and other emergencies. In these instances, candidates must electronically date-stamp or postmark their request no later than 30 days after the examination date and provide any and all supporting documentation. With proper documentation, candidates will be offered the option to apply their examination fee toward a future registration to be scheduled within the next six months, or they can request a full refund of examination fees. No refunds will be given for rescheduled exams. You can learn more about exam vouchers here.

Unfortunately, there is no way to extend the exam voucher expiration date, however, the date that your exam voucher expires is not the date by which you need to take your exam. It is simply the date by which you need to select the date you will sit for your exam. The day that you actually take the exam can be as far out as the testing locations in your area schedule exams. If you look at the locations in your area (searched by the zip code you have on file in your account), you’ll notice that exams can be scheduled past your voucher expiration date. If you widen your search radius, more dates and locations may appear.

Q: Can I change the time or location of my exam?

You may reschedule your ACE exam up until 11:59 p.m. PST the night before your scheduled exam date for a rescheduling fee of $149 for U.S./Canada and $299 for international exams. Candidates who “no show” and do not reschedule prior to that deadline will be subject to first-time exam fees for a new testing date.
To reschedule, log in to your My ACE account, select “My Exam Information” and then “Reschedule My Exam.” Proceed through the online registration process, paying the fee upon checkout. You’re only eligible to reschedule once, and you may only reschedule for another computer-based exam. Once your new desired examination date, site and time have been approved, you’ll receive an e-mail notification instructing you to download and print your admission ticket.
Exceptions to the reschedule fee will be considered on a case-by-case basis for documented serious illness, bereavement, natural disasters and other emergencies. In these instances, candidates must contact ACE Exam Registration prior to the day of their exam and provide supporting documentation. Candidates who have requested special accommodations will need to contact the ACE Exam Registration via e-mail at examregistration@ACEfitness.org or phone (888) 825-3636, ext. 783 to reschedule.

Q: I'm thinking about rescheduling my exam. Should I?

Can you physically not attend your exam or are you just not feeling ready? While rescheduling is the best option if you cannot physically attend your exam, we always encourage you to sit for your exam when possible because of the $149 reschedule fee, compared to the retake fee of $199.

The best case scenario is that you pass your exam on the first attempt and no further action is needed, however, if you are unsuccessful you will still have gained the experience of taking the exam and have an exam score report to work with. Our study coaches can then review that score report and help highlight where you’re doing well, where you need improvement, and provide other helpful study recommendations. Also, if you reschedule you’re limited to scheduling your exam with the options that are posted whereas if you retake your exam, you will have one year from your unsuccessful exam date to retake at the discounted rate of $199. Ultimately you need to determine what works best for you.

Q: How is the exam scored?

All four ACE certification programs have competency-based assessments comprised of multiple choice exams with 125 scored items and 25 experimental items that make up the entire credentialing exam. Candidates are given three hours to complete an ACE multiple choice exam for any of the four ACE certification programs.

ACE examinations are scored according to procedures accepted by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association and the National Council on Measurement in Education. The candidate’s score is derived from the number of questions answered correctly, and is then converted to a scaled score ranging from 200 to 800 points, with the passing point set at a scaled score of 500 points. Candidates who earn a scaled score of 500 or more points will be awarded the ACE certification for which they tested.

Q: How do I use my ACE eBook?

The following information will help you navigate through your eBook by explaining the toolbar functions, the navigation hot keys / shortcut keys and other usability functions.

To zoom the publication in and out, either click in the area of the page you wish to zoom in on, or use the zoom button on the toolbar, which will automatically zoom on the center of the pages you are viewing. Then select your preferred level of zoom using the zoom scale, which will appear on the toolbar once the publication is zoomed in.

To move the page around, click and drag the publication or use the scroll bars found at the right hand side and the bottom of the page.

If you are reading on a PC and you have a wheel on your mouse you can use this to scroll up and down.

Click on the publication or zoom icon again to zoom out (a minus sign will appear in the icon for zooming out).

PAGE BROWSING
To turn the page, click on the bottom right corner of the publication or use the arrow buttons on the tool bar for instant page display. You can also move instantly to the first or last page using the keys with a single vertical line, next to the arrow keys.
The page you are viewing will be displayed in the white window, in the middle of the toolbar. You can also type the page you require into this page display, to move instantly.
You can also use the contents drop down menu on the right hand side of the toolbar to select the page you require.

HOTKEYS
To navigate through the publication using hot keys instead of a mouse, use the following keys:
To select items on the menu bar use the TAB key to move through the selections. A yellow box will highlight your selection. To activate the selection hit the space bar.
- To turn to the next page, press the full stop key.
- To turn to back to the previous page, press the comma key.
- To zoom in, press “Z” once. Press the Z key a second time to zoom out again.
- You can increase or decrease the zoom level by pressing the + or - keys.
- Once zoomed in, press A to scroll left.
- Press D to scroll right.
- Press W to scroll up.
- Press S to scroll down.

SEARCH
There is a contextual search facility on the far right of the toolbar. Type your search word or term into the box and click the GO button to start the search. A dropdown menu of results will appear under the search box. Click the page you require from the menu and you will be delivered directly to that page. Your keyword or search term will be highlighted in green.

STICKY NOTES
You can add notes to the page for future reference by clicking on the note icon on the toolbar and selecting the area you wish to annotate. Write your notes in the yellow box. Once you have finished, a yellow note icon will be pasted on the selected area. When you wish to view your notes again, simply scroll over the yellow note icon when required.

BOOKMARKING
You can add bookmarks to your eBook that will allow you to return easily to specific pages. ACE eBooks allow for multiple page bookmarking, using different colored bookmarks for each page.
You can also reference each bookmark with a short description.
The bookmarks will remain on your publication if you view the publication from the same computer. You can also save an offline version of your publication to your desktop, which will also save your bookmarks and referencing.

CONTENTS
You can click on the contents button on the left of the toolbar to view a dropdown menu of the publication's contents. Clicking on the page you require will move you directly to that page. You can also click to view thumbnails of each page in the publication.

Q: I'm looking for a study timeline for my Personal Training program. What do you suggest?

We generally advise spending 3 to 4 months studying and preparing yourself to not only pass the exam, but also to prepare yourself to become a health and fitness professional. We suggest spending 12 to 15 hours on every lesson, which generally equates to taking 5 to 7 days to cover the video, reading, study companion and quiz. There are 18 lessons plus the exam review and practice tests, and if you spend 5 to 7 days on each that equates to about 3 to 4 months of preparation time.

Q: How can I improve my Find an ACE Pro ranking?

In order to improve your Find an ACE Pro Ranking, please ensure that you have provided the following information to ACE:

On your profile page:

Your description

Your picture

Your specialties

Your hourly rates

In your My ACE Account:

Your current CPR information

You will also rank higher if you have more than one current ACE Certification.

Q: How do I change my name on My ACE Account?

Fax a copy of either your marriage certificate or a driver’s license showing your new name, along with a brief letter stating your request to the attention of Educational Services at (858) 576-6564. You can also email the above documents to support@ACEfitness.org or mail them to: